Chair seat and back



Nov. 22, 1949 K. KOPPLIN CHAIR SEAT AND BACK Filed April 18, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l F/QZ.

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CHAIR SEAT AND BACK Filed April 18, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 22,1949 K. KOPPLIN 0mm SEAT AND BACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 18, 1945 HUT/V2195:

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Patented Nov. 22, 1949 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Karl Kopplin, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Frank C. Snedaker 8000., Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 18, 1945, Serial No. 588,909

4 Claims. (01. 155-186) This invention relates to an improvement in chair seats and backs adapted for use on chairs constructed entirely of wood, as well as chairs constructed of metal.

The object of my invention is to provide such parts for chairs formed of fabric such as canvas, having an outer relatively rigid frame which is adapted to be secured to the supporting structure of a chair, which frame is formed of plastic material and fabric hardened while being compressed, and a central portion which is flexible or elastic to conform to the shape of the person seated on the chair, to provide a seat which is more comfortable as a larger portion of the persons body will be in contact with the flexible portion, than when seated on a hard surface.

Another object of my invention is to form the seat with a frame which is shaped to be placed directly on the frame of the chair for supporting the seat or back, or a combined seat and back which can be secured in permanent {position thereon.

Another object of my invention is to form a seat of sheets of fabric such as canvas or other suitable fabric cut to the required shape of the seat, and laid up with strips of fabric, or strips of fabric and woven wire screening covered with thermosetting or thermoplastic material 'to form the frame of the seat, which frame is pressed to shape in any conventional manner and cured or set under pressure.

Another object of my invention is to form a seat having strips of rubber extending at right angles to each other across the frame and the flexible central portion, to form an elastic and flexible bottom, for the central portion of the seat.

Another object of my invention is to provide a seat of the above character, covered with sponge rubber cemented to the entire upper face of the seat, or only to the central flexible portion thereof.

Another object of my invention is to form a seat having a substantially flat hard frame with a flexible central portion, which can be used for replacing seats on chairs having the usual cane seats, or pressed seats.

Another object of my invention is to pressure mold a seat of layers of synthetic fabric, woven in the brilliant and durable colors obtainable in these materials, having an outer relatively rigid frame molded to the required shape and a flexible central portion which will conform to the shape of the person seated in the chair. This is readily done by heating only the frame portion and then'forming the rigid frame between cold mating dies under suitable pressure.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is aplan view of one form of seat adapted to be placed on a chair frame formed of metal tubing;

Fig. 2 is a detail section on the line 22, of Fig. 1, prior to compressing and curing;

Fig. 3 is 'a front view of the seat shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the seat shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side viewof the seat shown in position .on a portion of the frame of a chair formed of metal tubing;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing other materials laid up in a manner similar to Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of a seat provided with rubber strips laid at right angles to each other to form a resilient and flexible support under the fabric of the central portion of the seat.

Fig. 8 is, a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. '7; c

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. .8 in which theentire upper surface of the seat is covered with sponge rubber;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a replacement seat for cane seat chairs.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a combined seat and back, of another form of my invention; and

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of the form shown in Fig. 11.

In the drawings, with particular reference to Figs. 1 to 5, the seat is provided with a substantially rigid frame l0, and a flexible portion l I within the frame which is adapted to yield to the shape of the person occupying the chair, and is supported by seat supporting members of a chair A formed of metal tubing.

The seat is formed by laying up sheets such as [2, of canvas or other suitable fabric, which have been cut the proper shape to extend across the entire seat, which have been interleaved with strips l3 of fabric, which have been impregnated with thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, or strips of such resin may be placed in proper position with such strips, after which the seat is compressed in a mold and cured in the well known manner.

In Fig. 6, I have shown the laying up of interleaved strips M of fabric impregnated with thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, sheets I5 of fabric which form the flexible portion of the seats, and several strips of woven wire screening of the synthetic fabric plys to the fusing point, Hi to further reinforce the frame of the seat.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the bottom of the seat is provided with strips I! of rubber extending at right angles to each other which strips form a flexible and resilient support for the fabric center'of the seat and extend into the frame l8 at both ends thereof.

The frame portion l8 of the seat shown in Figs. 7 and? 8, is; folded upon itself as shown at- IE to rest on the box or frame Not the chair and is provided with a flange 2|, which may be secured to the inside face of frame 20 of the chair;

The modification shown in Fig. 9 is substanrtially the same as that shown in Fig. 8, but is provided with a sponge rubber top 22: cemented to both the frame 2| and the flexible central portion H. The flange 2| of the frame of the seat in the form shown in Fig. 9f extendsaover the front face of the seat supporting frame. 20' of the chair, and may be secured theretoin any desired manner.

The form shown in Fig. I is adapted for replacement for cane seatsof chairs and com-- prises a frame 2-3 of hard plastic material and fabric, and a flexible inner portion 24, and is" adapted to be secured to the face of' the seat of any type for replacement of the woven cane seat of the common form of such chairs.

In the form shown in Figs. 11- and 12; I- have illustrated. a combined seat and back formed as a unit, but if desired the back and seat may be formed separately, each having a rigid frame, enclosing a flexible portion: The combined seat and back comprises side frameportions 3U, til-and transverse portions 3 l 3'2 and 3-3, a; flexible seat portion 34 is enclosed by frame portions 33-, 30, 3| and 32, while the flexible back portion' 35 is enclosed by the frame portions-3U; 30, 32 and 3-3; The flexible seat and back. portions are airproofed in knownmanner and may each" be provided: with a valve such as 36, through which the air pocket between the several layers of flexible material, of which said portions 3'1! and 35 are formed, may be inflated, to form air cushions;

It will be evident that numerous variations of the invention may be made withoutdeparting from. the. principles thereof asdefined mthe appended claims.

What'I desire tosecure by'l'setters Patent isr' 1. A body support for a chair comprising a flexible centraL portion and a rigid frame, said support being formed of a sheet of fabric" extending across'the' entire support; a" plurality of strips extending around the edges of said sheet, and bonding material securing the strips and the edges of the sheet to each other to form the frame surrounding the flexible portion.

2. A body support for a chair comprising a flexible central portion and a rigid frame, said support being formed of a plurality of sheets of fabric extendingacross: the: entire support, a plurality of strips extending around the edges of said sheets, and bonding material securing the strips and the edges of the sheet to each other to form: the frame surrounding the flexible portion.

3LA body support for a chair comprising a flexible central portion and a rigid frame, said support being formed of a plurality of sheets of fabric: extending: across the entire support, a plurality of. fabric strips extending around the outer edges of said sheets, a reinforcing strip of wire netting of substantially the width as the fabric strips between thefabric sheets and bonding material securing the strips andthe edges of the sheet to each other tof'orm the frame surrounding the flexible portion.

4-. A body support for achair comprising a flexible central portion and arigid frame; said support being formed of a sheet of fabricextending across the entire support, a plurality-of flexible strips extending at right angles to each other into the frame below the sheet of fabric; a plurality of strips extending around the outer edgesof said sheet, and bonding material se curing said secondmentioned strips, the ends'of the flexible strips and the edges of the sheet to each other to form the framesurrounding theflexible portion.

KA-RL- KOPPLI-Na REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 215,923 Heywood'et'a'l.. May'27, 1879' 2,248,413' Rathbun July'8 1941' 2,251,318 Blair'et al Aug. 5; 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date- 336,120/ Great Britain ....v Oct.-- 9; 1 930 

